Can you tell us a bit about Gonzalez & Gonzalez?
Casa Gonzalez & Gonzalez was created by two childhood friends sharing the same values about slow living and passion about art and design. After both (Javier and Maria Rosa) living abroad we met again in Madrid and it was over a coffee that we put in common thoughts and values and the courage to open a store gathering a selection of articles difficult to find here in Spain but very popular in other countries.

How would you best describe the concept of your store?
Our philosophy is to inspire and bring our customers simple and functional objects to have in their homes. We think the atmosphere our articles present may transform a daily routine into a more pleasant one. We look for timeless and genuine products that accomplish a function and have a story behind.

What, in your mind, makes a good product/design?
When a product is conceived to be long-lasting, ageless, functional, honest and aesthetically attractive then you are in front of a good product design. If the object is also environmentally friendly then you are in front of the perfect piece to have in your home. We try to bring to our store timeless pieces that have their own place in our lives.

Is there a specific dish that you would make using any of our Falcon products? Can you also share the recipe?
Sure, we love to prepare a simple and a delicious lemon sponge cake in some of the Falcon Bake Pans from the Bake Set.
To prepare it you just need to mix the following ingredients:
- 3 eggs
- ½ cup of olive oil
- Half lemon zest grated
- ¾ cup of milk
- ½ cup of sugar
- 2 cups of flour
- 1 sachet of baking soda
Make sure you mix the liquid ingredients first and then you can add the solid ones. Put all together in an enamel tray previously spread with butter and a little flour. Introduce it into the oven for 45 minutes at 170 degrees and enjoy it with a cup of coffee!

Can you give tips on the best places to eat, drink, and source ingredients in Madrid?
We love to go to ‘Olivia te Cuida’ here in our neighbourhood, it is a small charming place with wonderful nutritious food, it was closed during pandemic times but they are about to open again. We can’t wait!
We keep going to ‘Honest greens’ for a quick lunch full of veggies.
For a special dinner instead we really love ‘Charrúa Madrid” in Conde de Xiquena street with a fantastic atmosphere and really good food.

What’s your favourite product in your store and why?
We have so much love for our soaps, they have been our staple since the beginning but we have added new products designed by us such us cutting boards and ceramic tableware made in the north of Spain that we use everyday in our homes. We like to mix and match our plates with other textures and materials and your black tumblers make a really lovely combination when put together.

How have you been keeping during this time? Do you have any tips for small business owners?
During these uncertain times we have been working as much as possible to keep the store going. We would like to thank our customers for all the support they are providing to us.
We always encourage small business owners to be persistent, to work hard from the beginning and be involved in the business as much as they can.

http://www.gonzalez-gonzalez.es/
Address: Calle Pelayo, 68, 28004 Madrid, Spain
Phone: +34 910 56 70 01

This month we’re celebrating the fifth anniversary of Rukmini Iyer’s bestselling cookbook, The Roasting Tin. Enjoy her most popular recipe to date from the entire Roasting Tin series, her All-in-One Steam-Roasted...